Vehicle door control



Oct. 29, 1940. H w. SMITH El AL VEHICLE DOOR CONTROL Filed Sept. 27,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l jiwa Oct. 29, 1940.

H w. SMITH ET AL VEHICLE DOOR CONTROL Filed Spt. 27, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet2 IIIWWWW nm 1940- H. w. SMITH ET AL VEHICLE DOQR CONTROL Filed Sept.27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE VEHICLE DOOR CONTROL Harry Worcester Smith, North Grafton, and Alfred E. Cave, Barre, Mass; said Cave assignor to said Smith ApplicationSeptember 27, 1935, Serial No. 42,384

8 Claims. (01. 268-3) This invention relates to a door controllingdotted lines in Fig. 6. The lever is provided with device for vehicles,particularly adapted for cona collar I8 fixed to it by a pin and springI9 trolling the rear doors of taxicabs but capable of below it, whichrests on a collar 20 carried by a general use. cup I6 whichconstitutesthe bottom of a cas- The principal objects of the invention are to ingI! in which some of these parts are located. provide means locatedat thetop of the vehicle As appears better from Figures 4, 5 and 6, the wherethey are practically entirely out of sight spring I9 presses the collar20- against the upfor manipiuating a lever in difierent directions perface of the cup I6, and thus yielding'ly-tends to unlatch and open orclose either of the two to hold the lever II] in vertical position,while rear doors at will; to provide a construction by permittingtilting of the lever about the axis of 10 which the driver can somanipulatethe doors the pivot pin I3 as well as also about an axiswithout leaving his seat, and to provide a'contransverse thereto, due tothe above-described struction in which the doors can be opened orrelation between the pin I3 and the slots I5, one

closed without slamming. direction of this latter tilting being shown inv Other objects and advantages of the invendotted lines in; lFigure 6.The arrangement tion will appear hereinafter. however, is also such thatthe lever I0 may be Reference is to be had tothe accompanyingswung,about the axis ofthe pin I3, throughout drawings, in whichsubstantially 90- and hence from the full-line Fig. l is a plan of theroof of a taxicab proposition shown in Figure 4 to the dotted-line videdwith a preferred embodiment of this inposition shown in that figure. Thelever provention; jects upwardly past its pivot and has an operat- Fig.2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of ing end which enters a space 2|between two Fig. 1 looking forward; slides 22. The slides 22 areprovided each with Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the parts shown twoscrews extending through a slot 24 in a at the extreme front of thevehicle in Fig. 1 but slide 23 to cause'the motion of the slide 23 after25 with the covering parts removed and shown on the Slide 22 has moved'ashort distance.

a larger scale; In the first place it will be obvious that by Fig. 4 isa side view of the same; swinging the lever first backwardly from theFig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of position shown in Fig. '7to a position in reg istra- Fig. 3; 7 tion with two notches 2E5 in thetwo slides 22 Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View on the andthenswinging it either to the right or left,

line 66 of Fig. 3; the end of the lever will be brought into one of Fig.7 is another plan of parts shown in Fig. these notches. Then the levercan be swung 3 but with the covering parts removed to show forward fromthe position shown in Fig. 3. The

the path of the top of the operating lever; first. effect of this is tocause a cam 26 on the Fig. 8 is a view similar to the left hand partslide to engage a projection 21 on a pivoted lever of Fig. 2 on enlargedscale; 28 and force that lever outwardly about its pivot Fig. 9 is asectional View on the line 9-9 'of 29. This action can take place oneither side,

Fig. 8 showing the latch construction in plan; one side for opening onedoor and the other for Fig. 10 is a top View of part of the car dooropening the other. The pivot 29 is on a proin closed position showingthe connection of the jection 30 carried by the casing II. The momeansfor operating it, and tion of this lever 28 will move an adjustable rod.Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevation ofthe connect- 3| which will turn alink 32 fixed on a vertical ing parts shown in Fig. 10. pivot rod 33.The link 32 is pivoted to the rod The operating mechanism for unlatchingand 3! by apivot 34 which is free to move. The pivopening the door aswell as closing it is operated ot rod 33 extends downwardly and has onits by a lever I0 having a handle II located at about bottom a cam 35.This cam, therefore, is operthe center of the car and in the front whereit ated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9 and, is convenient forthe chauffeur to reach up and moving through a slot 36 in a striker 39,it en manipulate it. This lever I0 is provided with a gages the springpressed tongue 31 on the door spherical enlargement I2 through whichpasses which, catches the door to the fixed striker 39. a horizontalpivot pin I3 supported in a pair of The striker 39 has a safety catch ortooth and a lugs M which are provided with vertical slots tightv catchto receive the tongue. The action, I5 for holding this pin. This pin canbe tilted therefore, is to move the tongue 31 beyond these in its slotsin either direction as indicated in teeth andunlock the door and thenunlatch it by a single motion of the operating lever l0. Springs 40 tendto hold the two rods 3| in the position shown in Fig. 1 and return themto that position. When not in use the operating lever can be swung upparallel with the car roof, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Accordingly, referring to Figure 4, the swinging of the lever Ill intothe dotted-line position moves the extreme operating end thereofdownwardly and out from in between the two spaced slides 22, while thecollar l8, spring 19, and collar 20 are moved out of the casing lT-IB,along respective arcs in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure4, and with the pin I3 as an axis; for these purposes the casing part [1has a vertical slot Il as is better shown in Figure 5, and thebottom-forming cup I6 also has a slot lt both slots positionedto theleft of the vertical plane through the axis pin l3 to permit the collarl8 and related parts that extend about the upper end of the lever 10 topass out of the casing, while a hollow, half-spherical shell 55 (Figures2 and 6) suitably secured to the lever, as shown in Figures 6 and 4, hasa portion thereof cut away as at 55 (see Figures 4 and 2) so that itwill not collide with the casing structure l't-il when the lever IE1 isswung into the dotted-line horizontal position of Figure 4. In thislatter position, the collar 20, carried out of the cup-shaped bottom itwith the movement of the lever is, is now no longer pressed by thespring l9 against the upper face of the cup it but is brought intoposition to bear against the left-handvertical edges of the lugs l4, asseen in Figure 4, thus yieldingly holding the lever it! in horizontalposition. While the collar I8 is fixed to the lever as by a pin, collar28 is loosely mounted on the lever, the spring l8 being between the twocollars and the spring, as a result, pressing the loosely mounted collar20 against whatever surface or surfaces it is brought into contact withaccording to whether the lever is in full-line position, as in Figures4, 5 and 6, whence the collar is pressed by the spring to rest on thecup It, or is swung into the dotted-line position of Figure 4 to bringthe loosely mounted collar 20 out through the slot I6 and to press itagainst the left-hand vertical edges of the lugs The slides 22 are, asstated, mounted to move on two other slides 23 and when the screws 25are moved far enough they will transmit to the slides 23 their ownsliding motion. This occurs after the door is unlatched. Now the furthermotion of one of either of these slides 23 operates to move a rod 42having a turn buckle 43, or other adjustment means, and therefore swingsa lever 44 in the direction of the arrow in Fig; 1. This lever, ofcourse, is located in the roof of the car and ordinarily concealed likemost of the mechanism described above. The lever 44 is pivotallyconnected with a link 45 which is pivoted to the door 46 at a point 41.The complete operation of the lever ID will first unlatch and then openthe door, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l.

The connection of the pivot member 41 with the link 45 is made through abreaking pin 48 mounted on a screw 49 and entering a spool 55 whichreceives the pivot 41 passing through the link 45. Therefore, if thedoor is pushed accidentally the break will occur at the point 48 and canbe repaired easily. Also a soft sponge rubber cushion 5| is shownmounted on the frame of the car in a casing 52 in the roof. Thislink 45passes through an opening in the cushion which cushions it and alsokeeps the rain out.

It will be seen, therefore, that the parts are located above thepassengers and in the roof where they are concealed by the usual liningin the roof. Also the driver has full control of both doors by onehandle located conveniently Within his reach and he can open the doorsindividually, first unlatchin'g them, and close them gently but firmlywithout slamming them. This relieves him of the necessity of reachingthrough the window and opening the door if the space there is free andalso relieves him of getting out and walking around the car to open thedoor. The passangers are released instantaneously which is a feature ofimportance in a crowded city. The construction is simple andcomparatively inexpensive.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise thanas setforth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In a door operating device for a vehicle, the combination of a handlepivoted near the roof of the car and depending therefrom, said handlebeing capable of turning about a longitudinal and transverse horizontalaxis, a slide on each side of the handle, means whereby the handle isadapted to move either slide, said slides having cam surfaces, a leverhaving a part engaging the cam surface of one slide, whereby the motion'of the slide will turn the lever on its axis, a vertical rod connectedwith said lever to be turned by it when the lever is operated by thecam, and an arm on the rod located in position to engage a door latchand throw it out of operative position.

2. In a door opening device for a vehicle, the combination of a slide,means for moving said slide, said slide having a cam and connectionsbetween the latter and said door for unlatching the door and also havinga pair of screws mounted thereon, a second slide having a slot forreceiving said screws longer than the distance between them, whereby,after the slide is moved a predetermined distance, the second slide willbe moved by one of the screws, and means connected with the second slidefor opening the door.

3. A door and latch operating device for a vehicle body having a roofstructure, a front operators seat, and two doors to the rear of thelatter,

each of said doors having latch means and the vehicle body having keepermeans with which said latch means respectively coact, said devicecomprising a frame structure underneath said roof structure havingrelated to it operating mechanism comprising-two slides and which, withsaid frame, are of relatively small vertical dimension,

two vertical rods having means respectively related to said keepers andadapted upon actuation to disengage the latch bolt therefrom, meansincluding cam means and lever means forming operative connectionsbetween said rods and the said slides of said operating mechanism,operating connections including lost-motion means, respectively, betweensaid doors and said slides of said frame adapted upon actuation thereofto move the door to which it is connecteda lever depending from saidframe at the forward portion of the latterand within reach of theoperatorin said seat, said lever being capable of turning aboutlongitudinal and transverse horizontal axes, and selective operatingconnections between said lever and said slides effective in accordancewith the direction in which said lever is tilted about saidlongitudinal, whereby said lever may be made selectively to actuateeither of said slides to effect actuation, through said cam means andlever means of the corresponding latch-disengaging means and then aftersaid lost-motion means has acted, to efiect actuation of thecorresponding door-moving operating connections, respectively to firstunlatch and then open the door corresponding to the selected slide, inresponse to turning said lever about said transverse axis.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said operatingconnections include means capable of giving way when said operatingconnections are stressed beyond a certain limit thereby to preventbreakage of said operating mechanism under abnormal conditions ofoperation.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said selectiveoperating connections between said lever and said slides include also adisconnectable connection between said selectively operable slides andsaid lever, whereby said lever may be disengaged therefrom and is madefree to be swun about one of said axes and into a substantiallyhorizontal position under and substantially parallel to said roofstructure, and releasable means for holding said lever in horizontalposition.

6. A door opening device for a vehicle having a door and a latch boltand keeper therefor and means for releasing said bolt from said keeper,comprising a guideway having a slide member slidably guided therein,said slide member having operating connections with said latch boltreleasing means whereby the latter is actuated in one direction inresponse to a moving stroke of said slide member in one direction alongsaid guideway and is actuated in the reversed direction when said slidemember is given a retrograde stroke of movement along said guideway, andoperating connections between said slide member and said door for movingthe latter, said operating connections including means forming alost-motion connection whereby said door-moving operating connectionsactuate the door only after a certain portion of either stroke of saidslide member along its guideway has been completed, said striker havingtwo catches, a safety catch and a locking catch with either of which thelatch bolt on the door may engage, said bolt-releasing mechanismcomprising a member having a range of actuation to include the regionsof both of said catches for thereby disengaging the bolt from either ofsaid catches during door-opening operation of the mechanism and forpermitting the bolt to engage either of said catches during doorclosingoperation.

7. A door and latch operating device for a vehicle having two doors,each having a latch bolt and keeper therefor, comprising a handlepivoted near the roof of the vehicle and depending therefrom, saidhandle having an operating end and being capable of turning about alongitudinal and transverse horizontal axis, two slides, meanscomprising a guideway slidably mounting said two slides in operativerelation to said operating end, said slides having spaced means witheither of which said operating end of said handle is engageable,according to the direction of tilting of said handle about one of saidaxes and thereby to permit the operating end of the handle to move thecorresponding slide upon turning of the handle about the other of saidaxes, each latch bolt and keeper having means for releasing the boltfrom the keeper and each bolt-releasing means having a vertical rodwhich, upon turning about its axis, actuates said releasing means, meansincluding lever means, one for each bolt-releasing means, formingoperating connections respectively between said vertical rods and saidtwo slides for effecting turning movement of either of said rodsaccording to which of said slides is engaged, and during an initialportion of its stroke, by said handle-operating end, and operatingconnections respectively between said slides and said two doors, eachincluding a lost-motion connection, for communicating movement of theengaged slide to the corresponding door only after said initial portionof the stroke of the selected slide has been traversed.

8. A door and latch operating device for a vehicle having two sidedoors, each having a latch bolt, comprising a handle having meanspivoting it near the roof of the car and in depending relation forturning about longitudinal and transverse horizontal axes, two slidebars respectively allocated to said two doors, means whereby the handle,according to the direction in which it is tilted about one of said axesand then turned about the other of said axes, is adapted to move eitherslide bar, said slide bars having cam surfaces, two vertical rods, onefor each of said two doors, and each having an arm located in positionto engage a latch bolt and, upon turning of its rod, to throw the latchbolt out of operative position, two lever means, each including alostmotion connection, operatively connecting said two slide bars andsaid two doors, respectively, whereby motion of either slide bar, inresponse to turning of said handle, moves its allocated door in openingdirection but only after the time interval interposed by saidlost-motion connection, and two lever means respectively connected tosaid vertical rods and respectively engaging the cam surfaces on saidslide bars, whereby the motion of the slide bar resulting from turningof said handle effects turning of its corresponding vertical rod tothrow the latch bolt out of operative position during said timeinterval.

HARRY WORCESTER SMITH. ALFRED E. CAVE.

